List of Asian Pacific American Medal of Honor recipients facts for kids
The Medal of Honor is the highest award a member of the United States military can receive. It was created during the American Civil War. This special medal is given to soldiers, sailors, and airmen who show extreme bravery. They must risk their own lives far beyond what is expected, especially when fighting an enemy. Because of how brave these actions are, the medal is often given after the person has passed away.
As of 2023, 3,515 Medals of Honor have been awarded. Out of these, 36 have been given to Asian-American service members.
The very first person of Asian or Pacific Islander background to get the Medal was James Smith. He was from Hawaii and received the medal in 1872 during peacetime. The first Asian-American to receive it was Charles J. Simons. He earned it in 1896 for his actions in 1864 during the American Civil War.
In 1996, a special study found that some Asian Pacific American soldiers were not fairly recognized during World War II. Because of this, 22 of their medals were upgraded to the Medal of Honor. Before these upgrades, the most recent Asian-American recipient was Rodney Yano, who received it for his actions in the Vietnam War.
In 2022, President Joe Biden awarded four Medals of Honor to Vietnam War veterans. Two of these went to Asian-American veterans, Edward N. Kaneshiro and Dennis Fujii. This was the first time Asian-American soldiers received the medal in 26 years.
As of 2023, Dennis Fujii is the only living Asian-American person who has received the Medal of Honor.
Contents
Brave Actions in Early Wars and Peacetime
This section tells about the first Asian-American and Pacific Islander Medal of Honor recipients. Their brave actions happened during the American Civil War and in times of peace.
- James Smith was the first person of Asian/Pacific Islander background to get the Medal of Honor. He received it in 1872.
- Sergeant Charles J. Simons was the first person of Asian descent to receive the Medal of Honor. He was Indian-American. Simons earned his medal in 1896 for his actions during the Siege of Petersburg in 1864.
Image | Name | Service | Rank | Date of action | Place of action | Unit | Notes |
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Charles J. Simons | Army | Sergeant | July 30, 1864 | Petersburg, Virginia | 9th New Hampshire Infantry Regiment | He was the first to enter the exploded crater. He captured many enemy soldiers. He was captured himself but later escaped. |
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James Smith | Navy | Seaman | April 12, 1872 | Greytown, Nicaragua | USS Kansas | He showed amazing calm and heroism. He prevented many lives from being lost. |
Philippine-American War Heroes
The Philippine–American War was a conflict between the United States and the First Philippine Republic. It lasted from 1899 to at least 1902. This war happened because Filipinos wanted to be free from U.S. control.
During this war, one Asian American, José Nísperos, received the Medal of Honor. He kept fighting even after being badly wounded.
Telesforo Trinidad received a Medal of Honor later during peacetime. He saved two men from a dangerous boiler explosion. He was the second and last Asian-American service member to receive the medal during peacetime.
Image | Name | Service | Rank | Date of action | Place of action | Unit | Notes |
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José B. Nísperos | Army | Private | September 24, 1911 | Lapurap, Basilan | Philippine Scouts | He was seriously wounded but kept fighting until the enemy was pushed back. |
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Telesforo Trinidad | Navy | Fireman Second Class | January 21, 1915 | aboard USS San Diego | USS San Diego | He saved two men after a boiler exploded, even though he was injured. |
World War II: Recognizing Heroes
World War II was a huge global conflict. It started in Asia in 1937 and in Europe in 1939. Most countries in the world joined one of two sides: the Allies or the Axis powers. Over 100 million military people were involved. It was the deadliest conflict in history, with over 60 million people killed. The Allies won the war.
During World War II, 464 U.S. military members received the Medal of Honor. Only two Asian Americans were given the medal by the end of the war. They were Sergeant Jose Calugas and Private Sadao S. Munemori.
In 1996, the United States Army looked into whether there was racial unfairness in awarding medals during World War II. The study found that many Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who received a lower medal, the Distinguished Service Cross, should have received the Medal of Honor. On June 21, 2000, President Bill Clinton awarded the Medal of Honor to 22 Asian Americans. Twenty-one of these were from the study.
Out of the 24 Asian-American awardees, 21 served with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team or its part, the 100th Infantry Battalion. This makes the 442nd the most decorated unit of its size in the war. Only two Asian-American officers received the Medal of Honor in World War II. Captain Francis B. Wai drew enemy fire to himself to show where they were hiding. Second Lieutenant Daniel Inouye destroyed two machine gun nests and kept fighting after being wounded. Inouye later became the first U.S. Representative for Hawaii. He was also the first Japanese American congressman. He served as a U.S. senator for Hawaii from 1963 until he passed away in 2012.
This with the * indicates that the Medal of Honor was awarded posthumously (after death).
Image | Name | Service | Rank | Date of action | Place of action | Unit | Notes |
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Jose Calugas | Army | Sergeant | January 16, 1942 | Culis, Bataan Province, Philippines | Philippine Scouts | 88th Field Artillery Regiment,Under heavy fire, he organized and led a gun crew. The original crew had been killed or wounded. |
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Rudolph B. Davila | Army | Staff Sergeant | May 28, 1944 | Artena, Italy | 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division | He led his unit by being a great example. Even though he was wounded, he attacked an enemy-held house by himself. |
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Barney F. Hajiro | Army | Private | October 19, 1944 – October 22, 1944, and October 29, 1944 |
near Bruyères and Biffontaine, eastern France | 442nd Regimental Combat Team | He helped attack a house and captured a larger enemy force. He also silenced two machine gun nests by himself. |
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Mikio Hasemoto* | Army | Private | November 29, 1943 | Cerasuolo, Italy | 100th Infantry Battalion | With his squad leader, he destroyed an enemy force. He had to run through heavy fire twice to get new weapons. |
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Joe Hayashi* | Army | Private | April 20, 1945, and April 22, 1945 |
Cerasuolo, Italy | 442nd Regimental Combat Team | He led an attack on strong enemy positions. He silenced three machine guns by himself. |
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Shizuya Hayashi | Army | Private | November 29, 1943 | Cerasuolo, Italy | 100th Infantry Battalion | He silenced a machine gun nest and an anti-aircraft gun by himself. |
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Daniel Inouye | Army | Second Lieutenant | April 21, 1945 | near San Terenzo, Italy | 442nd Regimental Combat Team | He destroyed two machine gun nests by himself. He kept fighting and leading his platoon after being wounded. |
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Yeiki Kobashigawa | Army | Technical Sergeant | June 2, 1944 | near Lanuvio, Italy | 100th Infantry Battalion | He led successful attacks on four machine gun positions. |
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Robert T. Kuroda* | Army | Staff Sergeant | October 20, 1944 | near Bruyeres, France | 442nd Regimental Combat Team | He destroyed two machine gun positions by himself. |
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Kaoru Moto* | Army | Private First Class | July 7, 1944 | near Castellina, Italy | 100th Infantry Battalion | He attacked two machine guns by himself. Even though he was wounded, he captured a third. |
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Sadao Munemori* | Army | Private First Class | April 5, 1945 | near Seravezza, Italy | 442nd Regimental Combat Team | 100th Infantry Battalion,He threw himself on an exploding grenade to save his fellow soldiers. |
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Kiyoshi Muranaga* | Army | Private First Class | June 26, 1944 | near Suvereto, Italy | 442nd Regimental Combat Team | He attacked an artillery gun alone, using a mortar. |
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Masato Nakae* | Army | Private | August 19, 1944 | near Pisa, Italy | 442nd Regimental Combat Team | 100th Infantry Battalion,He held off an enemy attack. He kept fighting after being wounded. |
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Shinyei Nakamine* | Army | Private | June 2, 1944 | near La Torreto, Italy | 100th Infantry Battalion | He destroyed a machine gun nest by himself. He also led attacks on two others. |
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William Nakamura* | Army | Private First Class | July 4, 1944 | near Castellina, Italy | 442nd Regimental Combat Team | He silenced a machine gun nest. He stayed behind to provide covering fire as his unit pulled back. |
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Joe M. Nishimoto* | Army | Private First Class | November 7, 1944 | near La Houssiere, France | 442nd Regimental Combat Team | He neutralized three machine gun positions by himself. |
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Allan M. Ohata* | Army | Sergeant | November 29, 1943 – November 30, 1943 |
near Cerasuolo, Italy | 100th Infantry Battalion | Together with another soldier, he held back a larger enemy attack. |
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James K. Okubo* | Army | Technician Fifth Grade | October 28, 1944 – October 29, 1944, and November 4, 1944 |
Foret Domaniale de Champ, near Biffontaine, France | 442nd Regimental Combat Team | He repeatedly went into heavy fire to treat and move wounded men. |
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Yukio Okutsu | Army | Technical Sergeant | April 7, 1945 | Mount Belvedere, Italy | 442nd Regimental Combat Team | He silenced three machine gun positions by himself. |
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Frank H. Ono* | Army | Private First Class | July 4, 1944 | near Castellina, Italy | 442nd Regimental Combat Team | He held an advanced position alone. He treated wounded men and stayed behind to provide covering fire as his unit pulled back. |
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Kazuo Otani* | Army | Staff Sergeant | July 15, 1944 | near Pieve Di St. Luce, Italy | 442nd Regimental Combat Team | He drew enemy fire onto himself so his platoon could reach safety. He was killed while rescuing a wounded man. |
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George T. Sakato | Army | Private | October 29, 1944 | Hill 617, near Biffontaine, France | 442nd Regimental Combat Team | He charged an enemy strongpoint. He took command of his platoon and led it to defend their position. |
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Ted T. Tanouye* | Army | Technical Sergeant | July 7, 1944 | near Molino A Ventoabbto, Italy | 442nd Regimental Combat Team | Even though he was wounded, he attacked a series of enemy positions by himself. |
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Francis B. Wai* | Army | Captain | October 20, 1944 | Leyte, Philippine Islands | 34th Infantry Regiment | He took command of four attack groups. He led by example and drew fire onto himself to show enemy positions. |
Korean War: Courage in Korea
The Korean War was a three-year conflict. It started when North Korea invaded South Korea in 1950. The United States and the Soviet Union also became involved. The main fighting lasted from June 25, 1950, until an agreement was signed on July 27, 1953.
Three Asian Americans received the Medal of Honor for their actions in the Korean War. Hiroshi H. Miyamura was captured by Chinese forces. He was held as a prisoner of war for 28 months. To protect him, news of his Medal of Honor award was kept secret until he was released.
This with the † indicates that the Medal of Honor was awarded posthumously (after death).
Image | Name | Service | Rank | Date of action | Place of action | Unit | Notes |
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Hiroshi H. Miyamura | Army | Corporal | April 24, 1951 – April 25, 1951 |
Taejon-ni, Korea | 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division | He fought in close combat. He stayed behind to provide covering fire while his unit pulled back. |
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Anthony T. Kahoʻohanohano † | Army | Private First Class | September 1, 1951 | near Chup'a-ri, Korea | Company H, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division | Even though he was wounded, he held a position alone. He fought hand-to-hand until he was killed. |
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Herbert K. Pililaau † | Army | Private First Class | September 17, 1951 | Pia-ri, Korea | Company C, 23d Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division | After he was killed fighting the enemy, it was found that he had defeated over 40 enemies by himself. |
Vietnam War: Sacrifices and Heroism
The Vietnam War lasted from 1959 to April 30, 1975. It was fought between Communist-supported North Vietnam and the United States-supported South Vietnam. The war ended when the capital of South Vietnam, Saigon, fell to the communist forces. Over 8.7 million U.S. forces took part. More than 47,000 were killed in battle.
During the Vietnam War, five Asian Americans received the Medal of Honor. Four of them received it after they died. Elmelindo Smith was killed while fighting with his unit, even after being wounded many times. Terry Kawamura gave his life by jumping on an explosive. This saved the lives of two other soldiers. Rodney Yano sacrificed his life by throwing burning ammunition off a helicopter. This happened after a grenade exploded too early. Edward N. Kaneshiro died less than a year after his brave action in 1967. He did not receive the Medal until 2022, after his death.
Dennis Fujii is the only living Asian-American Vietnam War veteran to receive the Medal of Honor in person. He is also the only living Asian-American Medal of Honor recipient today.
This with the † indicates that the Medal of Honor was awarded posthumously (after death).
Image | Name | Service | Rank | Date of action | Place of action | Unit | Notes |
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Terry Teruo Kawamura † | Army | Corporal | March 20, 1969 | Camp Radcliff, Republic of Vietnam | 173rd Engineer Company, 173rd Airborne Brigade | He jumped on an explosive charge to save the lives of two other soldiers. |
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Elmelindo Smith † | Army | Staff Sergeant | February 16, 1967 | Republic of Vietnam | 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division | He kept organizing his unit's defense. He did this even after being repeatedly and fatally wounded. |
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Rodney Yano † | Army | Sergeant First Class | January 1, 1969 | near Bien Hao, Republic of Vietnam | Air Cavalry Troop, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment | He grabbed burning ammunition and threw it from the aircraft. This was after he was seriously wounded by a grenade explosion on a helicopter. |
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Edward N. Kaneshiro † | Army | Staff sergeant | December 1, 1966 | Kim Son Valley, Vietnam | 9th Cavalry Regiment | His unit was attacked. Kaneshiro crawled forward and attacked with grenades and a rifle. This saved the lives of U.S. soldiers. |
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Dennis Fujii | Army | Specialist Five | February 18–22, 1971 | Laos & Vietnam | 67th Medical Group | He stayed behind to help wounded soldiers. He directed helicopter rescues while under heavy fire. |